The Equinox (Volume I, Number IX)

THE EQUINOX We are going to state forthwith, in this last book, by what means the true initiates have made themselves the masters of life, how they have overcome sorrow and death; how they work upon themselves and others the transforma- tion of Proteus; how they exercise the divining power of Apollonius; how they make the gold of Raymond Lully and of Flamel; how in order to renew their youth they possess the secrets of Postel the Re-arisen, and those alleged to have been in the keeping of Cagliostro. In short, we are going to speak the last word of magic. CHAPTER I OF TRANSFORMATION—THE WAND OF CIRCE—THE BATH OF MEDEA—MAGIC OVERCOME BY ITS OWN WEAPONS—THE GREAT ARCANUM OF THE JESUITS AND THE SECRET OF THEIR POWER Tue Bible tells us that King Nebuchadnezzar, at the highest point of his power and his pride, was suddenly changed into a beast. He fled into savage places, began to eat grass, let his beard and hair grow, as well as his nails, and remained in this state for seven years. In our Dogme et rituel de la haute magie, we have said what we think of the mysteries of lycanthropy, or the meta- morphosis of men into werewolves. Everyone knows the fable of Circe and understands its allegory. 270